Coal range



Patented Feb. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COAL RANGE poration of Michigan Application January 27, 1936, Serial No. 61,075

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in coal ranges.

More specifically, the invention relates to an improved front hot plate construction and improved means for holding the hot plate in open position for refueling the range.

In coal ranges as heretofore constructed, the front hot plate which provides access to the fire box had suitably attached thereto a lever or lifting device for cooperation with a catch on the high shelf or closet for holding the hot plate in open position during the refueling operation. Such construction was disadvantageous in use, forthe reason that when it was desired to raise the hot plate it was necessary to reach past the end of the range for manipulation of the lever or lifting device. Furthermore, when the lifting device was manipulated to raise the hot plate, still greater inconvenience was experienced in ascertaining the relation of the lifting device to the catch, it being necessary that the catch be placed in a notch in order to hold the hot plate in open position.

This construction, as heretofore employed in coal ranges, was particularly disadvantageous when, as is often the case, the re box end of the range was located close t a wall or other object whereby access to the hot plate lifting and holding mechanism was very difficult.

A primary object of the present invention is the provision of an improved construction whereby the above-noted disadvantages are effectively overcome.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means for manually lifting the front hot plate of a coal range and means acting automatically to retain the hot plate in open position.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved front hot plate in a coal range which is capable of being manually lifted from the front of the range and spring actuated means acting automatically upon the hot plate being lifted to retain the same in open position.

A still further object of the invention is the provision in a coal range of a pivoted front hot plate which is constantly engaged by one end of a lifter bar, which bar is associated with a lifter lever and spring means in such manner that the lifter bar is yieldably urged against the hot plate with constantly increasing pressure as the hot plate is manually lifted for retaining the hot plate in open position.

A still further object of the invention is the provision in a coal range of a front hot plate which is associated with improved lifting and retaining means in such manner that the hot plate is free for ready disconnection with the range.

With the above objects in View, as well as others that will become apparent from the following disclosure, reference will be had to the accompanying drawing forming part of same, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a rear View of a coal range in perspective, disclosing the application of the present invention, the high shelf or closet being removed for clarity of disclosure;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the front hot plate raised and being retained in raised position in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of one of the elements of the mechanism for retaining the front hot plate in open position;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of elements co-operating with the element shown in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a broken away View similar to Fig. 1, disclosing a modified embodiment of the invention. Y

Referring to the drawing by reference characters and wherein like characters designate like parts in the several views, R designates a range which may be of. the usual construction, except for such modifications as are hereinafter described in connection with the present invention.

The range R embodies a re box b which is normally closed by a front hot plate l0 suitably pivoted adjacent the center hot plate C for swinging movement from open to closed position and vice versa, the re box b being in communica-l tion with the smoke flue F in accordance with coal range constructions now in use.

The front hot plate lil is provided with means for effecting manual lifting thereof and which preferably comprises an extension Il, Castor otherwise, suitably secured to the front edge of the hot plate lll. The extension I! normally rests in a recess I2 in the frame of` the range and this extension, which is of angular formation, is provided with a suitable handle i3 of wire or other material which will be cool enough for comfortable handling. While this is the preferred means for manual lifting of the plate, it may be lifted with a lid lifter` or other proper means.

Supported at the rear of the range is the improved means yfor maintaining the hot plate in vopen position. This means in its preferred form comprises a lever Ii pivotally connected with the range at l5 and which is, in turn, pivotally connected at i6 with the lower end of a lifting bar Il. The bar il extends generally in a vertical direction with the upper end thereof passing i on through a suitable opening I8 into the frebox b and into loose engagement with the under side of the front hot plate I0.

The lever I4 is preferably of the form most clearly shown in Fig. 4 and which comprises a relatively wide angular head I9 provided with apertured ears 2i).V The head I9 is disposed over the oven door spring S, acting as a shield or cover therefor andl between the body of the range and a pivot support 2| suitably secured to the smoke flue F. The pivotal connection I5 comprises a long bolt 22, extending through the support 2| and the apertures in the ears 20.,

The lever I4 is adapted to swing vertically in the operation of the device and the angular or L-shaped head I9 is so disposed relative to the spring S as to be free to move about the same and function as a shield in all positions thereof.

Secured to the range at 23 is one end of a coil spring 24, the opposite end of which is secured to th-e lifting bar I1 at 25.

In the closed position of the hot plate I0, as represented in Fig. l and at which time the lever I4 and lifting bar Ilare in their lowermost position, the coil spring 24 is substantially parallel with the lever I4 and with the axis of the spring or the line connecting the spring securing points 23 and 25 slightly above the pivotal connection I5 of the lever I4, whereby the upper end of the lifting bar I1 engages the under face of the plate IIJ under a pressure insuflicient to raise the plate. When the plate I0 is manually lifted, however, the bar I1 will move upwardly therewith, being always'maintained in contact therewith through the spring 24. As the plate Ii) is lifted, the upward pressure of the bar I1 will constantly increase, due to the increased leverage action of the spring 24, until the plate is in fully raised position, indicated in Fig. 2, andY in which position it will be maintained by the bar I1. The bar I1 is preferably provided with a stop 26 for engagement with the frame of the range to limit upward movement of the bar I1.

In Fig. 5 is represented a modified construction, wherein foot-operated means are utilized in addition to the means already disclosed for manually lifting the hot plate I Il. This means, which may be of various forms, preferably comprises a pedal 21, suitably pivoted at 28 beneath the range and connected with the pivot I6 by means of a link 29.

With this construction, the hot plate I9 may be raised upon foot actuation of the pedal `21 which, in turn, positively actuates the bar I1 and which, in turn, lifts the hot plate I0. This construction in no way interferes with the hand lifting of the plate and the pedal 21 including the link 29 is preferably balanced with respect to the pivotal connection 28 so as not to interfere with the action of the lever I4,bar I1, and spring 24.

It will be seen from the foregoing disclosure that the construction in accordance with the present invention materially reduces'the effort and inconvenience heretofore experienced in refueling coal ranges, in that the front hot plate junction with the free engagement of the bar I1 with the plate I0, permits ready removal of the plate. The bar I1 may, however, be connected plate will return the same to closed position,Y

where it will remain until again manually raised. While I have disclosed a. specific embodiment of the invention, the same is to be considered as illustrative, and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being defined in the subjoined claims.

What I claim as new-and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent isz-'- l. In a range construction, a pivotally mount-` ed hot plate, means accessible from the front of the range for raising and lowering the hot plate. and spring actuated means acting automatically upon raising the hot plate to retain the same in raised position.

2. A range construction comprising a fire box and a pivotally mounted hot plate for normally closing the fire box, means accessible from the front of the range for manually kraising and lowering the hot plate, and spring actuated means at the rear of the range automatically acting upon raising of the hot plate to retain rsame in raised or open position.

3. In a range construction, a pivotally mounted hot plate, a vertically movable member having one end thereof disposed beneath the hot plate and the other end thereof pivotally `Vconnected Y with the range, and spring means urging the vertically movable member upwardly, said pivotah.,

connection and said spring means being ,so disposed that the vertically movable membery moves upwardly upon manual lifting ofthe hot plate and exerts suflicient pressure ron the hot plate to retain the same in open position when liftedto fully open position. y

4. In' combination with a coal range comprising a lire box and aY pivotally mounted hot plate normally Closing the Yfire box, means for manually lifting and closing .the hot plate, `a. vertically movable bar having one end engaged with the Yhot plate, a lever khaving one endpivotally connected with the range and the` other end pivotally connected with the other end of said bar, and a lcoil spring having one end connected with vthe range and the other .end connected with saidbar, the axis of said spring extending kslightly above the pivotal connection of said lever with the range in the closed position of the hot plate for moving' the bar upwardly with-the lifting movement of the hot plate and the said axis Vextending substantially above said pivotal connection in the open position of the hot plate for urging said bar upwardly under sufficient pressure to maintain the hot plate'in open position. l

5. The construction defined in claim 4 wherein said lever includes a head4 adjacent the pivotal connection thereof with the range for providing a shield for an ovendoor spring.

6. In a range construction, a pivotally mounted hot plate, means for raising and lowering lthe hot plate, a vertically movable lifting bar, and a spring connected with the lifting bar for constantly urging same into engagement withV the hot plate for maintaining the hot plate in raised position. l FRANK J.FREELAND. 

